Being a downtown dweller is great - everything is right at your fingertips, especially in our neighbourhood. However, sometimes it’s nice to break away from the concrete jungle and hustle and bustle of the city and head to a place with a more outdoorsy feel. It’s important to soak in as much Vitamin D as possible before the weather turns (you know how fast that can happen!), so why not spend your summer weekends hanging out at some of the city’s most popular outdoor, public spaces.
These are some of our favourites:
The Beaches
The city’s east end is great but can sometimes be overlooked by downtowners. The Beaches has a ton of character - the shops and restaurants along Queen Street East are all small but focus on quality. Just as the name suggests, the area is in close proximity to beaches like Balmy Beach, Kew Beach, and Woodbine Beach - take your pick! Head here and you’ll feel transported out of the city, we promise.
Photo via Jo Poon on Flickr
High Park
The time to visit High Park is now as it’s in peak Cherry Blossom season. If you miss the boat on that one, it’s still the largest park within the city, so we’re sure you can find something else to do. Bring your bike and pack a picnic or grab a bite at The Grenadier Restaurant inside the park!
Photo via Loozrboy on Flickr
Yorkville
Kicking it up a few notches, if you’re up for a expensive shopping trip mixed in with grabbing a latte outside, Yorkville is great. The neighbourhood is essentially an outdoor mall filled with high-end retailers - perfect for picking out the perfect outfit for a wedding or just window shopoing. There is space to sit in the sun in one of the area’s four parks - Village of Yorkville Park, Frank Stollery Parkette, Jesse Ketchum Park, and the Town Hall Square - when you need a break from going in and out of stores.
Photo via Imnop88a on Flickr
Harbourfront
We’re unbelievably lucky to be a city situated on the water. With so many improvements happening on the waterfront right now, it’s quickly becoming one of the most fun places to be in the summer. The Harbourfront is 10 acres on the water (can you believe it?) that is home to daily events and activities like markets, performances, food festivals. You can choose to hang out in Ontario Square, Canada Square, Exhibition Common, or just find a bench and watch the boats go by.
Photo via Benson Kua on Flickr
Who’s ready for summer?
Cover photo via Imnop88a on Flickr
